Riddle Sticks

A riddle is a wooden mesh tool of the Victorian era that was used to sift grain. Riddle Sticks is a modern metaphor of this history, sifting the landscape at Silo City, one of the largest clusters of grain silos in the world.

Rising to a height of 8 meters above the surrounding landscape, the spire marks the pedestrian gateway to this historic and cultural site. After traversing the 2.5 meter wide, 4.5 meter long steel tunnel into Silo City, one is immersed in the natural reclamation of industrial legacy.

Made from Rigidized stainless steel tubing, Riddle Sticks curves in both height and plan to accentuate the natural landscape and vegetation. While still distinct in its presence, the sculpture yields to the history around it, with the cylindrical tubing both echoing and acting as a screen through which to see the grain silos beyond. In addition to this visual harmony, Riddle Sticks is interactive, acting as an instrument that can be played with a mallet as one runs along it. The resulting notes cascade through the tubes.

Project Type: Independent Commission

Role: Designer

Client: Rigidized Metals Corporation